In the future, big smokey burnouts won't merely burn rubber if tires from Continental are involved. The global manufacturer is working on a plan to make tires completely out of sustainable, recycled materials by 2050, but simply grinding up old tires to make new ones won't be enough. That's where plastic bottles, dandelions, and rice husks come in. Wait, what?
Natural rubber is sourced from specific trees in the form of latex, and that will continue to be a key ingredient for producing tires in the future. However, it will be supplemented by other plant-based resources such as dandelions, which are also a source of rubber. Silica is also used in tire manufacturing and plays a role in various aspects of performance, from grip to rolling resistance. Often sourced from quartz sand, plant-based oils can be a silica supplement. Rice husks left over from rice production are a good source of silica, with Continental saying the husks are a more energy-efficient solution for manufacturing.
